Northern Periphery: Long-Term Inuit-European and -Euroamerican lntersocietal Interaction in the Central Canadian Arctic Donald S. Johnson Department of Anthropology, McGill University, Montreal. May, 1999 A thesis subrnitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfilhent of the requirements of the degree of Master of Arts. Copyright O Donald S. Johnson, 1 999 National Library Bibliothèque nationale du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services sewices bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. nie Wellington OttawaON K1AON4 Ottawa ON KIA ON4 Canada Canada Yow fi& Votre réference Our file Notre rdfd~ce The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fkom it Ni la dèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. ABSTRACT This study examines long-term lnuit - European and -Euroamerican intersocietal interaction in the central Canadian Arctic. This geographical area encompasses the traditional ranges of the contiguous Copper, Netsilik and lglulik lnuit societies. Specifically. the study analyzes and discusses changes in intra- and intergroup material trade networks and social relations resulting from indirect and direct contact with the developing capitalist world-system. Through the application of world-system theory and methodology, it is shown that indirect contact in the form of the acquisition of material trade items was a gradual. though constant. process that had a considerable impact on the cultural development of these societies. 60th indirect and direct contact were greatly accelerated during the 19th century, increasing the rate of cultural change. and, by the early 20th century. ultimately culminating in the articulation of the Copper. Netsilik and lglulik lnuit societies within the modern capitalist world- system. RESUME Cette étude fait l'analyse de l'interaction à long terme entre les sociétés Inuit-Européene et -Euroaméricaine dans la région centrale de l'Arctique Canadienne. Cette région géographique est comprise d'une diversité traditionelle de sociétés lnuit et contiquës de Copper, Netsilik et Iglulik. En particular, I'etude examine et discute les changements dans les réseaux de commerce rnatérial et les relations sociales entre les groups, et à l'intérieur de ii ces derniers, resultant de contacts indirects et directs avec le système mondial qui était dévéloppant et capitaliste. A cause de l'application de la théorie et la méthodologie du système mondial, il sera démontré que le contact indirect dans la forme de l'acquisition des articles de commerce matérial était un processus graduel, tout de même constant, qui a eu un impact considérable sur le dévéloppement cultural de ces sociétés. Les contacts indirects et directs, les deux, étaient beaucoup accélérés pendant le 1Sa siècle, précipitant le changement culturel, et culminant finalement dans l'articulation des sociétés Inuit de Copper, Netsilik et lglulik dans le système mondial qui était capitaliste et moderne au debut du 2W siècle. iii I am deeply grateful ta the members of rny academic committee, Dr. James M. Savelle, Dr. George W. Wenzel and Dr. Michael S. Bisson for their tirne, awnsel and support. In paiüailar. I owe a deep debt of gratitude to my advisor and mentor, Dr. James Savelle, for his astute assistance in al1 aspects of my academic life. Dr. Savelle's knowledge, enthusiastic direction and stellar supervision have been integral to my understanding of contact and intersocietai interaction and to the preparation of mis thesis. His kindness, effort and friendship eased my retum to acaderne after an absence of many years, and made the experience not only hghly enjoyable, but profoundly satisfying. Dr. George Wenzel has kena mentor and friend whose knowledge of the Arctic and lnuit societies has been of inestimable importance. I profited enorrnously from Dr. Wenzel's '%reat Books of the North" seminar and frorn many stimulating conversations, especially those which drew on his expertise of lnuit sharing and kinship systems. I also wish to thank Dr. Michael Bisson, who took time frorn a very busy schedule to serve on my committee, and whose comments have been highly valu&. Dr. Bruce O. Trigger's seminar on archaeological theory, writings and many perceptive comments were extremely helpful and often inspirational. I am also grateful to Dr. Toby Morantz for ber insightful comments. Although I have yet to make his acquaintance, Dr. Trevor Max Friesen played a salient role in the writing of this thesis. His Periphery as Centre: Long-term Patterns of lnterwcietal Interaction se- as my personal lanchor to windward" in understanding world-system theory and it's application to precapitalist societies. Thanks are also due to Professor lmmanuel Wallerstein, Fernand Braudel Center, Binghamton University, New York and Dr. Aron L. Crowell, Arctic Studies Center, Smithsonian Institution. Anchorage, Alaska for their cogent comments and encouragement- I was fortunate, too, in receiving iv vduable insights and several critical observations from my fellow graduate student and dose friend, Yongwook-Luc Yoo, whose many kindnesses are too numerous to nurnber. , f would like to thank Sue Rundle of Manchester, Vermont for her translating skills, John Conte and Tim Morton of Advanced Imaging, Manchester, Vermont, for their assistance in the preparation of maps, and Richard Nantel of Montreal for his mathematical expertise. Rose Marie Stano, Administrative Assistant, and the staff of the Department of Anthropology, MoOill University. as well as the staff of the Mciennan Library, McGill University, also assisted me on innumerable occasions. I also wish to pay tribute to several individuals who have been steadfast in their support over the years: Mr. Morris Buske, Oak Park, Illiinois, Dr. Chartes Houston, M.D., kindred idealist", Burlington, Vermont, rny mother, Gloria Johnson of Chicago, Illinois and my godmother, Anita Stewart, of Prospect Heights, Illinois. My return to University, and the writing of this thesis, could not have been accomplished without the love, constant encouragement and strong support of my wife Alanna (also a supeib editor), daughter Guinevere, and son Gunnar. This thesis is dedicated to the memury of my bdoved father, Car! Gunnar Johnson, 1921- 1997. "Fottitudine V/ncimusU Table of Contents Abstract. .......................................................................................................... ii ..................................... Acknowledgements ..................................... iv List of Figures......... .. ............... .................................................................. vii List of Tables.............................. ... ............................................................... viii 1 . Introduction ........ ..... ................................................................................ 1 Theoretid Background................ ...... ..................................... 5 Theoretical Framework................................................................. 6 Methodology and Predictions............................................................... 10 Classification Systern/Chronology for the Process of Incorporation in this Study......................................................... 14 Culture History, Process of Incorporation, and Predictions............ .-.... .. .................................................... 15 Incidental Zone ................................. ..... ...................... 15 Early Contact Periphery...................................................... 16 Late Contact Periphery.................. .. ...........................*.... 17 Marginal Periphery............................................................. 19 Dependent Periphery.......................................................... 20 Incidental Zone .Discussion ........................ ... ................... 21 Early Contact Periphery O Discussion................ ... ......................... 26 Late Contact Periphery O Discussion............. ..... ............................ 31 Whaling: The Period 1820 œ 1880................................................ 35 Inuit - Expedition Contact. ................... .... ................................. 40 Expeditions: The Period 1820 O 1839................. ... ...................... 46 Expeditions: Rie Period 1845 - 1860.......................................... 64 mitions:The Period 1860 O 1880.......................................... 76 Marginal Periphery .Discussion ................ ... ............................... 84 Dependent Periphery..................................................................... 91 Discussion and Condusion................................................................. 92 Incidentai Zone ................................................................................ 92 Earfy